Letters to the Editor for April 13

Friday, April 12, 2013

Obama’s law

April proclaimed National Financial Capability Month

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2013 as National Financial Capability Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month with programs and activities to improve their understanding of financial principles and practices.

President Obama is calling on Americans to “Improve their understanding of financial principals and practices.” He vows to “help young people understand how to budget responsibly.”

Obama and speaker Boehner say there is no immediate debt crisis.

What the teacher brings to the class:

National debt has increased by more than $6 trillion (T) during his term; total debt is now 17 T. Obama has spent $30 billion more in five months of 2013 than he did in the first five months of 2012. ObamaCare will add another $6.2 T to the long-term debt.

GAO estimates health care premiums going up another 203 percent. The Federal Reserve is digitized (same as printing) and buying debt of unknown trillions more. Federal Reserve is currently digitizing $85 billion a month and buying more of our debt.

The Fed’s been criticized for simply monetizing the debt. This means because the Fed can create credit out of thin air, which is like printing money. It’s as if the Treasuries bought by the Fed didn’t exist. However, once the economy recovers, the Fed can get reimbursed by Treasury and take the debt off its balance sheet.

The Senate just passed the first budget in over four years which by law must be submitted each year. This is a sham budget that does nothing to address the debt; in fact it increases it.

The president’s budget was due Feb. 4 and now Obama is more than two months late on submitting his budget which also by law requires it to be submitted annually.

Now the president is going to help people understand how to budget responsibly?

Norman B. Holman

Hood River

March of Dimes

Leos’ May bottles and cans recycling profits will be donated to March of Dimes, a national nonprofit organization committed to supporting healthier babies and raising awareness to bring an end to premature births.

Half a million babies are born too soon. The proceeds finance research to help understand and prevent premature births.

Please bring your cans and bottles to Rosauers parking lot on May 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help support this important cause. Thank you!

Petra Knapp and Claire Rawson

Leos Club

Hood River

Finding balance

It is good to have Carolyn Zuck’s thoughtful arguments and comments in the April 10 Hood River News Another Voice column. Finding the right balance between First Amendment rights and protecting young children is one of the Library District’s more difficult tasks, and it is helpful to have a variety of perspectives as we work to find the best answer to this complicated problem.

The Library Board will discuss this issue at its upcoming April 16 board meeting at 7 p.m. at the Cascade Locks Library, 140 S.E. WaNaPa St. We hope that interested citizens will come to the meeting.

If you’re unable to attend the meeting, you can also contact the entire board directly by emailing board@hoodriverlibrary.org.

I would, however, like to clarify the Library District’s legal position regarding the Internet and federal funds. We are not violating any federal, state or local laws regarding computer use.

The column is correct in stating that the Children’s Internet Protection Act requires schools and libraries to filter their networks if they accept federal funds. Libraries most commonly receive federal funds through the E-Rate telecommunications reimbursement program and the Library Services and Technology Act block grant program. Our Library District does not receive E-Rate funds.

Regarding LSTA funds, the filtering requirement only applies if the funds are used to purchase computing equipment. We have not used LSTA funds to purchase computers and do not plan to do so. Currently, the Library District does not have filters on its public Internet computers.

Thanks again to Carolyn Zuck and others for providing their points of view and thoughts on this issue.

Buzzy Nielsen

Director, Hood River County

Library District

Library policy

We have just read Carolyn Zuck’s Another Voice: “Library board of directors: We need you!” (April 10). Thank you, Carolyn, for your thorough research and for your challenge to the Hood River Library Board of Directors. We have been doing a little “research” of our own. We have been visiting and communicating with libraries in Oregon and Washington and will continue to do so.

What we have learned is that it is clear that individual libraries are serious about dealing with the inappropriate use of computers in a variety of ways.

In addition to filtering they use special carrels that make it virtually impossible for passers-by to see what is being viewed; they have security personnel to enforce computer use; they have special sections, away from where children might wander, for unfiltered computer use for adults.

We have also learned that regular pornography users are quickly identified by library personnel and that these users lose their rights to use the computers.

It is clear that other library boards have developed policies that protect children. We have been told that there is no local policy regarding the viewing of pornography in the Hood River library. If we have been incorrectly informed we apologize.

Based on what we have observed and learned, we would add our challenge to the Hood River Library Board to do the right thing by developing a strong policy regarding inappropriate uses of computers in the Hood River library and by informing the public of that policy.

Carl and Jeanine Jacobson

Hood River

Con vs. Chem

Re: “Chemtrails” (Kristy Wallen, “Our readers write,” April 10). In this last issue of the News, you had a reader express concerns about “chemtrails” or lines that crisscross the sky every so often. Not to worry. As someone who has spent a great deal of time “aloft” I think I can explain away her concerns.

As she probably knows, “contrails” are produced by the engine exhaust gases, which are very hot and contains lots of moisture and when hitting the extreme cold temperatures at altitude, form ice crystals. Depending on the winds at the higher altitudes, “contrails” can remain visible for long periods of time.

The “chemtrails” she is referring to have to do with the chemical solution used in the lavatory holding tanks. By FAA rule we were not supposed to dump the holding tanks below 30,000 feet to insure that everything is vaporized before hitting earth. The clean chemical solution is blue in color and that is why sometimes you will see a blue streak down the back part of the aft fuselage.

The clean solution does not show up well since it is blue in color against a blue sky. It is only when the solution has been well used that one would notice a “chemtrail.”

I hope this explains and alleviates the reader’s concerns about “chemtrails.”

Latest video:

Parkdale third graders sing "12 Disaster Days of Christmas"

Welcome to your sing-able Christmas gift list.
What follows is an emergency rendition of “12 Days of Christmas” – for outfitting your home or car in case of snow storm, earthquake, flood or other emergency.
Read it as a simple list, or sing it to the tune of “12 Days” – you know, as in “ … and a partridge in a pear tree…”
Not to make light of it, but the song is a familiar framework for a set of gift ideas that you could consider gathering together, even if the recipient already owns items such as a bunch of coats, tire chains and flashlights. Stores throughout the Gorge are stocked up on all these items. Buying all 12 days might be prohibitive, but here are three ideas for checking any of the dozen off your list (notations follow, 1-12.) The gift items needed to stay warm, dry and safe are also coded to suggest items in your abode (A) in your car (C) or both (B).
12 Gallons of Water (A)
11 Family meals (B)
10 Cans of propane (A)
9 Hygiene bags (B)
8 Packs of batteries (A)
7 Spare coats (B)
6 Bright red flares (C)
5 Cozy blankets (B)
4 Tire chains (C)
3 Flashlights (B)
2 cell phone chargers (B)
1 And a crush-proof first aid kit (B)
Price ranges? Here’s a few quotes for days Three, Two, Four and Nine:
n A family gift of flashlights (three will run $15-30, Hood River Supply, Tum-A-Lum)
n Cell phone chargers (two will run $30-60)
n Tire chains (basic set, $30, Les Schwab, returnable if unused for the winter)
n Family meals ($100 or so should cover the basics for three or four reasonably well-fed days)
n
The home kit should be kept in a handy place near an exit, and remember that water needs to be replenished every few months.
If you have a solid first aid kit already, switch out the gift idea with “and-a-sto-o-u-t- tub-for it-all …”
Otherwise, it’s a case of assembling your home or car kits and making sure all members of the family know what the resources are and how to use them (ie flares and propane).
Emergency situations are at worst life-threatening, at best deeply uncomfortable if you and your family are left without power for an extended period, or traveling and find yourself in a situation where you need to wait out a storm, lengthy traffic delay, or other crisis.
Notes on the 12 gift ideas:
12 – Gallons of water: that’s one per person in a four-member family to last for three days, the recommended minimum to be prepared for utility outages.
11 – Easy-open packaged goods, energy bars, dried food and nuts are good things to include for nutrition. Think of what your family of four needs for three days to stay fortified and hydrated (see number 12). Can-opener also recommended
10 – If you have a propane camping stove, keep extra fuel handy.
9 – Hygiene bags: put packaged moistened towelettes, toilet paper, and plastic ties in large garbage bags (for personal sanitation)
Resource list courtesy of Hood River County Emergency Management, Barbara Ayers, manager/ 541-386-1213.
The county also reminds residents to Get a Kit, Make A Plan to connect your family if separated, and Stay Informed. See www.co.hood-river.or.us to opt-in for citizen alerts. Enlarge